etches 1 of 2

Definition of etchesnext
present tense third-person singular of etch
1
as in engraves
to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface the artist etched his landscape on a copper plate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in imprints
to produce a vivid impression of in just a few pages the writer etched an unforgettable portrait of one of the more remarkable First Ladies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

etches

2 of 2

noun

plural of etch

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of etches
Verb
Kirby beautifully etches these notions into Miss Black America. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for etches
Verb
  • Malcolm Arnold’s 2,000-square-foot business, Apple Core Electronics, on Flushing Avenue in Bushwick makes exterior intercom panels, sets their wiring, punches buttons and engraves addresses.
    New York Times, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The company also engraves the names of the two teams, the final score, the location of the game and its date on the trophy base.
    Paul Edward Parker, The Providence Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The current inscribes some victims’ skin with mysterious scarlike patterns called Lichtenberg figures, which resemble the limbs of a barren tree—or the branching structure of lightning itself.
    Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • On the deck of the Manx Steam Packet ferry from Liverpool to the island, Jorge is smoking in the morning sunshine and watching the frothy wake as the ship carves its path.
    Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 29 May 2026
  • Unsurprisingly, Saturday Night Live gets an abundance of screen time, but Greenbaum carves out space for Key & Peele, MAD TV, and earlier practitioners like Vaughn Meader and Rich Little.
    Jason Bailey, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • The art show paired portraits of animals that exhibit same-sex behaviors, like peacocks and flamingos, and was meant to be a commentary on how queerness has been hidden throughout history, leaving artists to use symbolism to communicate their point of view.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
  • Some viewers and beginner-painters valued his bare-bones instructions on how to create unchallenging landscape portraits, while still some others undoubtedly enjoyed Ross and his painting lessons for their snark value.
    Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Etches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/etches. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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